The annual Mulhako wa Alhomwe cultural festival brought together senior government officials, business leaders and members of the Lhomwe community in Mulanje on Sunday, underscoring the event’s growing significance as both a cultural and public platform.
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha attended the gathering as guest of honour, representing President Peter Mutharika, the patron of the organisation, who is currently outside the country on a private visit.
The event attracted a substantial government presence, including eight Cabinet ministers and a number of senior public officials.
Among those in attendance were Minister of Energy and Mining Jean Mathanga, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango, Minister of Natural Resources Patricia Wiskes, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda.
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi, principal secretaries, directors from various ministries and departments, as well as district commissioners from across the country.
While the festival remains rooted in the preservation and promotion of Lhomwe culture, it has increasingly become a forum that attracts figures from across Malawi’s political, business and civic life.
Among the notable attendees was Apostle Clifford Kawinga, managing director of Creck Hardware, who joined celebrations at Chonde Ground alongside thousands of festival-goers.
His participation reflected the role that private sector actors increasingly play in supporting cultural and community initiatives.
Ahead of the main event, Apostle Kawinga contributed K30 million through the purchase of seats during a fundraising drive organised in support of the festival.
Speaking at the gathering, he described culture as an important pillar of nation-building and argued that cultural traditions should be preserved and supported for future generations.
Mulhako wa Alhomwe, established in 2007, has evolved into one of Malawi’s largest cultural festivals. Supporters view it as a vehicle for promoting cultural identity, preserving the Chilomwe language and strengthening social cohesion among communities across the country.
As crowds gathered in Mulanje for this year’s celebrations, the festival once again demonstrated its capacity to bring together cultural expression, public life and community engagement within a single national event.
Mulhako draws Cabinet Ministers, Jean Mathanga and Mary Navicha among them
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